Three killed as clashes grip Ukraine ahead of talks

Ukraine on Sunday reported the death of two soldiers, while pro-Russian rebels accused Kiev’s forces of killing a civilian as fresh clashes preceded peace talks aimed at ending the 15-month war. Kiev military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said two government troops were killed and six wounded in mortar fire and shelling across swathes of the eastern separatist Donetsk province over the past day. Separatist negotiator Denis Pushilin called the reported attack “a grave violation of the Minsk agreement” that Russia and Ukraine signed in mid-February during talks involving the leaders of Germany and France.